Apparatus and method for launch and retrieval of a hovering aircraft
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:
- (a) hovering the aircraft such that a spanwise fixture of the aircraft is positioned over a boom;
(b) sliding a fixture capturer along the boom until the fixture capturer is positioned below the spanwise fixture, the fixture capturer including a first capture member and a second capture member in an open configuration; and
(c) moving the first and second capture members from the open configuration into a closed configuration such that the spanwise fixture is captured between the first and second capture members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for launch and retrieval of a hovering aircraft. Generally, the apparatus of the present disclosure is configured to capture a hovering aircraft between two or more fingers of an aircraft capturer, guide the captured aircraft into a docking station for servicing and/or storage, and launch the aircraft from the docking station. The apparatus of the present disclosure is thus configured to bring the aircraft from an imprecise, irregular hover into a secure and well-controlled rest state. The tolerance of imprecision provided by the apparatus makes it particularly suited for use under a practical conditions such as aboard a small boat in a rough sea.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:
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(a) hovering the aircraft such that a spanwise fixture of the aircraft is positioned over a boom; (b) sliding a fixture capturer along the boom until the fixture capturer is positioned below the spanwise fixture, the fixture capturer including a first capture member and a second capture member in an open configuration; and (c) moving the first and second capture members from the open configuration into a closed configuration such that the spanwise fixture is captured between the first and second capture members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for launching an aircraft into free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:
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(a) starting an engine of the aircraft; (b) while a spanwise fixture of the aircraft is captured between first and second capture members of a fixture capturer in a closed configuration, sliding the fixture capturer along the boom to a launch position; and (c) manipulating the first and second capture members from the closed configuration into an open configuration to release the aircraft into free thrust-borne flight. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An aircraft retrieval apparatus comprising:
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a boom; a fixture capturer slidably mounted to the boom, the fixture capturer including first and second capture members movable from an open configuration to a closed configuration; and a controller configured to, while the aircraft is hovering such that a spanwise fixture of the aircraft is positioned over the boom, cause the fixture capturer to slide along the boom until the fixture capturer is positioned below the spanwise fixture and cause the first and second capture members to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration to capture the spanwise fixture therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification